The Bent Knee

Anyone with more than one child knows that there is an ongoing, friendly dispute.
I’m Mom’s favorite!
Through the years I have heard that numerous times…from some more than others.
I truly think that each child secretly hopes that they alone will hear those words.
Those special words, that set them apart from the rest.

John and Charles Wesley’s mother, Susanna, had nineteen children.
She was once asked a difficult question.
Which of your surviving ten children do you love the most?
She gave a brilliant response.
The one who is sick until he is well and the one who is away from home until he is back.

Jesus’ disciples had an ongoing dispute.
Which of them was considered to be the greatest?
Sound familiar?

Jesus gave them an object lesson…instead of using words.

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was around Him. (John 13:2-5)

This was the task of a servant.
The dusty roads, they traveled each day, made their sandaled feet quite dirty.
Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, was washing their dirty feet.
Jesus the Servant Lord.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you , you will have no part with Me.”
“Then, Lord” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well.”
…When He finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place.
“Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call Me Teacher and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:6-9, 12-17)

The disciples’ dispute, concerning who was the greatest, was silenced at this very moment.
Their view of greatness was wrong.
Their view of greatness entailed people bowing to them…serving them.
Bowing down to them because they deserved it.

Jesus would bend His knee in service to them.
They didn’t deserve it…but He did it anyway.
The One who could have had legions of angels serving Him, bent His knee to wash the dirty feet of the ones He loved.

Nothing was too great a cost.
He loved them that much.

He bent His knee another time.
This time, He was in a garden…in prayer to His Father.

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” He said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him. “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will. (Mark 14:32-36)

Abba…Daddy.
How intimate their relationship…that existed before the creation of the world.

Jesus bowed His knee in submission.
True Greatness.

Jesus bowed His knee in humble service.
True Greatness.

Jesus would soon go to the cross.
His knees would be spared the crushing blow that would hasten death.
The bones of His knees, that bowed in submission and service, would not be broken.

The spotless Lamb…without defect…the perfect sacrifice.

Jesus took on the very nature of a servant so that we would know how to serve.
Jesus submitted His will to the will of His Father so that we would know how to submit.

He alone deserves our bent knee.
Bending our knee before Him as we bow in worship.

…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:10,11)